Self Storage Website Options Compared (Pros & Cons)

Whether you’re thinking about building your first self storage website or you already have one that leaves you dissatisfied, you’re not alone. Many operators find themselves frustrated—sometimes because their site looks outdated, sometimes because it lacks features or integration, and often because it just isn’t converting visitors into renters. In other cases, a site might look fine on the surface but quietly underperform in terms of move-ins, making it feel more like a liability than an asset.

When you start looking for solutions, you’ll quickly find there’s no shortage of choices. But each option comes with its own trade-offs. Broadly speaking, storage businesses tend to land in one of four categories:

• DIY builders (like Wix, Squarespace, WordPress, or even newer AI-driven tools)

• Facility management software add-ons that include a basic website module

• Agencies that build custom sites, sometimes with marketing support

• Self storage–specific website providers focused solely on this industry

In this article, we’ll walk through each of these options, highlight the pros and cons, and point to resources where you can go deeper, such as what makes the best self storage websites stand out, the most common mistakes to avoid, and how to break down your website options in light of your business goals.

DIY Builder

This is the biggest category available and should really be broken down into subcategories. All of these platforms are designed for people with little or no coding experience to get a site live fairly quickly, though each assumes a slightly different level of comfort with technology.

Traditional DIY Web Platforms 

Before diving into the pros and cons, it’s worth noting that these are often the first platforms operators turn to. They’re designed for simplicity, with drag-and-drop interfaces and preset templates, making them approachable for anyone without technical experience. They’re a good way to get online quickly and with minimal upfront cost, though they come with trade-offs that matter more as your business grows.

Pros: These platforms are intuitive and easy to use, with plenty of tutorials available. They are affordable, quick to set up, and make it possible to launch a site yourself—or with light help from a freelancer.

Cons: The downside is that they don’t provide a storage-specific move-in flow. While some facility management software (FMS) providers offer embeddable website modules, they often don’t match the site’s design and can be pricey as you grow. These platforms are rarely the best option for maximizing move-in rates and are best considered a stop gap solution as you grow.

WordPress with Page Builders

WordPress isn’t traditionally considered DIY, but its open-source ecosystem now includes drag-and-drop page builders that make it approachable. Many hosts even offer one-click WordPress installations, which means you can go from purchasing a domain to having a functioning site in minutes. Unlike the more closed DIY platforms, WordPress also gives you full control over themes, plugins, and integrations—making it possible to start simple and then layer on more advanced functionality over time. This flexibility appeals to operators who want a website that can grow with their business rather than forcing a future rebuild.

Pros: Using WordPress with a page builder requires no coding but allows almost endless customization. Page builder tools have improved dramatically, and the WordPress ecosystem has extensive documentation and community support. This flexibility makes WordPress a stronger foundation for later conversion optimization than other DIY options.

Cons: Like traditional DIY platforms, WordPress struggles to deliver a seamless, storage-specific move-in experience. Embedding unit selection modules from your FMS may carry extra costs, and there’s still a learning curve if you’re new to the platform.

AI-Assisted “Vibe Coding”

A newer option is AI-assisted “vibe coding,” where you describe what you’re building to an AI model and it generates the site. Rather than dragging and dropping elements yourself, you give prompts—like telling the AI you want a homepage with a unit selector, a payment workflow, or a blog—and it assembles the structure and design automatically. Platforms like Wix, Lovable, Base 44, and Memex are experimenting with this approach, and new entrants appear frequently. The space is evolving quickly, with tools becoming more powerful and user-friendly each month, making this an area to watch closely for operators who want to stay ahead of the curve.

Pros: The biggest advantage is staying current with AI trends. These platforms can generate unique, customized designs that are difficult to achieve with other DIY tools. Some include hosting, most have free tiers, and integration with FMS APIs may be more feasible than with other builders.

Cons: While coding knowledge isn’t required, there’s still a learning curve in reviewing or editing AI output. The technology evolves quickly, so today’s know-how may become outdated. AI also still produces occasional errors and design quirks that users can spot.

Business Software Website Builders (CRM, Payments, Marketing Tools)

Some tools you may already use, like CRMs such as HubSpot, Salesforce, or Zoho, also include website-building capabilities. Other common business platforms that storage operators rely on—like Square or Clover—also offer website solutions. Even email marketing tools like Mailchimp now include site builders, giving operators the option to create a simple web presence directly inside the software they already use to run their business.

Pros: These solutions integrate easily with your existing tools, saving setup time and simplifying reporting. Many offer free tiers, and their documentation and support are extensive. They can also be a good entry point if you already have familiarity with these tools or the functions they support—such as finance, sales, or marketing. For example, if you’re already using HubSpot for campaigns, or Square for transactions, the website builder attached to those tools can make setup simple and integrated.

Cons: Pricing tends to rise quickly as you add features or users. These platforms are often built around a specific core capability—like customer relationship management, finance, sales, or marketing—which may not be central to how a self storage business operates. For example, many storage operators don’t use a CRM at all. For long-term growth they offer limited customization for storage-specific move-ins, leaving you reliant on FMS modules for core functionality.

Facility Management Software Solution

Most established self storage businesses use facility management software (FMS) to handle operations—pricing, gate access, delinquencies, move-ins, and more. Because the FMS is already the operational hub, many providers also offer website modules with direct access to available units, allowing visitors to select and move in online without leaving the system. These bundled websites are often the default choice for operators who just want to get online quickly.

Examples: SiteLink, StorEdge, Cubby, Easy Storage Solutions, Tenant Inc., Yardi Breeze.

Pros: The convenience of direct integration with your FMS is hard to beat. These sites can display real-time inventory and pricing, and unit features (such as climate control or first-floor access) can be shown automatically if set up correctly in your FMS. Some providers even bundle basic websites for free.

Cons: The trade-off is that many of these websites look outdated or generic. Design flexibility is limited, optimization for conversions can be difficult, and the quality of customer support varies. Pricing can also add up quickly—sometimes around $200 per location per month.

Web Agency / Marketing Agency

Traditional agencies offer custom web development and marketing services. They can build to exact specifications, handle tricky integrations, and often support your marketing efforts with SEO, paid search, social ads, and more. For storage operators, this means an agency can not only create a modern site that reflects your brand but also design a move-in workflow tailored to your business goals. Agencies are often the first option operators consider when they outgrow a basic FMS website, because they promise both creative freedom and technical know-how under one roof.

Pros: Agencies can bring nearly any vision to life and act as long-term partners. They can integrate your FMS into your site and even build custom move-in workflows designed to improve results. Some may offer one-time project pricing rather than ongoing fees, and agencies with marketing expertise can provide valuable support beyond just the website.

Cons: The downside is cost and time. Agencies are the most expensive option, and projects typically move slower due to creating a customized solution. Agencies without storage experience may also face a steep learning curve, and enabling FMS APIs can involve additional monthly fees.

Self Storage Website Provider

This category includes companies whose primary product is websites built specifically for storage businesses. Unlike general DIY builders or agency projects, these providers focus entirely on the storage industry. Many also offer platforms with built-in FMS or rental systems, meaning the website, reservation system, and back-end operations can all come from the same vendor. This focus often results in sites that look modern, load quickly, and are pre-configured with features like unit search, reservation forms, and online payments right out of the box.

Pros: These providers specialize in storage, so their sites are designed to solve as many problems and inconveniences unique to self storage as possible. They deliver clean, professional designs, a full suite of industry-focused tools, and generally positive client reviews.

Cons: The biggest limitation is customization, you can make a theme to fit you, but really tailoring it to improve conversion will be difficult. You’ll likely be locked into their move-in process which is the most critical conversion pathway, and in some cases, you may be required to use their FMS as well.

Each of the four main website paths comes with its own balance of convenience, flexibility, and performance. DIY builders are quick and affordable, but often fall short on a smooth storage-specific move-in flow. Facility management software add-ons offer integration out of the box, but can feel dated or limited. Agencies can create nearly anything you imagine, though it usually comes with higher costs and longer timelines. And self storage–specific providers deliver industry-ready solutions, but tend to lock you into their ecosystem.

The important question isn’t just which option looks best—it’s which one will help you convert more visitors into paying renters. That’s the real job of your website.

If you want to explore what separates good from great, check out our guide on how to make your website the best self storage website, run the numbers with our conversion calculator to see how move-in rates affect revenue, or take a closer look at the top problems with SiteLink websites before committing to an FMS solution. The more clearly you see the trade-offs, the better positioned you’ll be to choose a site that supports both your current needs and your long-term growth.